Northbrook Shopping Center (also known as Northbrook Mall and Northbrook Professional Center) was Bismarck’s first fully enclosed and second overall shopping center (behind Arrowhead Plaza). It was the second fully enclosed mall to open in North Dakota, after Minot’s Arrowhead Shopping Center one year prior.
Construction of Northbrook began in 1962, with a grand opening the following year. Two additions were completed in 1967 and 1971, and the mall was significantly remodeled in 1986.
For decades, Northbrook was a thriving neighborhood shopping center. Originally, it housed the city’s first modern discount store (Tempo) and then-dominate grocer (Red Owl). The mall was later reconfigured to contain more than 40 diverse commercial tenants that included restaurants, retail stores, and professional services.
By the 2000s, Northbrook’s position as a competitive shopping center had ended.
Today, the mall has evolved into a mixed-used facility known, unofficially, as Northbrook Professional Center. For many years, its primary tenant has been the state government’s ITD department. A few other notable tenants (as of 2017) include Thrifty White Pharmacy (previously Northbrook Drug), Universal Athletics, Michael Jays Tattoo and Piercing, China Garden, Papa John’s Pizza, and a handful of professional services.
History
Northbrook Mall was announced on July 14, 1962. Much like Arrowhead Plaza before it, Northbrook complimented a larger development, in this case, Homan Acres.
United Development Corporation highlighted the shopping center as a prominent fixture of its Homan Acres subdivision, which United began developing in 1958. Negotiations and planning spanned roughly two years before Minot-based Forserg Inc. commenced construction in mid-1962. Forsberg had just completed Minot’s Arrowhead Shopping Center, which was North Dakota’s first enclosed mall.
Forsberg owned the shopping center itself, leasing the land from United. A member of the Kavaney family was a principal in United, namesake of the bordering Kavaney Drive. The Kavaney family later has a hand in developing Gateway Mall, which opens in 1979.
Northbrook Mall spanned 72,950 square feet upon opening in 1963. Red Owl and Tempo, corporate siblings under the Minnesota-based conglomerate Gamble-Skogmo, anchored Northbrook when it officially opened on May 1st, which coincided with Red Owl’s opening. Tempo preceded by a couple weeks, on April 17th.
At 40,000 square feet, Tempo was Northbrook’s largest store. Tempo was Bismarck’s first modern discount department store, opening nearly a decade before Bismarck’s Kmart, and featured a drive-in automobile service garage. It was the second Tempo in North Dakota, after Minot’s Arrowhead Center opened the previous year.
The 12,000-square-foot Red Owl store supplemented its downtown (then at 411 N 4th Street) and Mandan locations, easily establishing itself as the region’s dominant grocer. It had five checkout lanes and a service counter.
Completing the remaining 20,000+ square feet were Akre’s Dutch Oven, Northbrook Beauty Shop, Northbrook Beauty College, Northbrook Barbershop, and Northbrook Laundromat. A liquor store, Johnson’s Northbrook Bottle Store, opens in October.
In the grand opening announcement, the enclosed mall – still a relatively new concept – introduced the shopping experience of entering a single exterior door to “leisurely” enjoy an afternoon of shopping “without being bothered by cold, wind, or sudden showers.” It was described as a “broad, covered walkway, which extends in an L-shaped manner connecting the various businesses located” within.
Other Early Tenants
Other early tenants included Northbrook Chiropractic (in 1971), American Family Insurance, and Dutch Boy Paints.
Expansions
Two major additions were added within its first few years of operation. The first was in 1967, adding two wings adjoining Tempo, one to its east and another, significant smaller addition to its northwest. The second, in 1971, expanded upon the eastern 1967 addition.
Tempo Closes
Tempo – the mall’s largest tenant – closed unexpectedly in May 1976, despite having six years remaining on its lease. Its former 45,000-square-foot space was converted into a “mini mall” to house multiple tenants. The “Northbrook Mini Mall,” as it would be referred, was divvied into 35 spaces averaging 1,200-1,500 square feet each, with the largest space being that of Hardware Hank at 6,500 square feet. The heart of the mini mall was an octagonal layout.
The new mini mall concept debuted in October 1977, with a grand opening in March 1978. In addition to Hardware Hank, new tenants to occupy Northbrook within the next year included The Wok, Hansen’s Mens Wear, The Cheddar Box, The Kitchen Cupboard, Feist TV and Electronics, and The Earth Pantry. A full-service post office and a drivers license service center were also established at this time.
Planned 1981 Expansion
In 1979, a partnership headed by Dan Schmaltz acquired Northbrook Mall from United Development Corporation. Soon after, mall management announced expansion plans that, when completed in 1981, would have added a movie theater, variety store, and recreation center to the north. Despite obtaining necessary financing, these never materialized.
1983 Bank Acquisition
While not technically foreclosed, First Bank Bismarck acquired the shopping center in lieu of outstanding debt in 1983.
New Management
Northbrook’s occupancy rate had dwindled to 58% by the time Midwest Management (now GOLDMARK) assumed management of the mall in late 1986.
The rise in vacancies was attributed to business closures as a result of inflation and higher interest rates, and to increased competition from other shopping centers, particularly nearby Gateway Mall.
A $500,000- renovation project commenced soon after. By July 1987, occupancy had risen to 90%. Northbrook had been rejuvenated, for the moment.
Red Owl Re-brands, Closes
In 1986, Red Owl’s corporate office asserted control of the failing Bismarck franchises (then operating as Rod’s Family Foods). Shortly after, in 1987, both Bismarck stores underwent renovation and re-opened under the company’s new Freshmart Foods pilot store concept.
The newly renovated 15,600-square-foot grocer added a new bakery, deli, and “smokehouse” for custom-made sausages. It also expanded its meat and produce departments.
Its efforts proved unsuccessful, however, and both Bismarck Red Owl locations permanently closed in March 1989.
This resulted in Northbrook’s largest tenant and sole anchor unoccupied. Like its Tempo counterpart previously, the space was split to house multiple tenants.
Hardware Store Closes
On the same month of Red Owl’s departure, Northbrook’s second-largest tenant, Jerry’s Trustworthy Hardware, also shuttered. The store was originally a Hardware Hank, purchased by Jerry Cook – former manager of Arrowhead’s Scheels – in 1978. A replacement, Keller’s Trustworthy Hardware, replaced the store soon after. Keller’s, too, closed by 1990.
Recent History
Throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s, Northbrook again struggled with high vacancies. Today, Northbrook mostly houses professional services, along with a small handful of retail and restaurants. Its change in tenant structure has lead to its new identity of Northbrook Professional Center.
In 2015, Northbrook Drug became Thrifty White Pharmacy.
Northbrook Mall Pylon Sign, replaced in 2017
Northbrook’s long-standing pylon sign (pictured here) was replaced in 2017. It was not the original sign, likely erected during the 1986 renovation.
Tenant List in 1989
Those still operating, or their successors, are in bold (as of 2017).
- AJ Video (Later Budget Music & Video)
- Allstate Insurance
- American Family Insurance
- Bismarck Floral & Gifts
- Bjork/Gilchrist DDS
- BMP Printing
- Ted Boutrous (Attorney)
- Steve Wonnenberg (CPA)
- Dakota Collectibles
- Century 21
- Children’s Outlet
- Designer’s Choice
- Farmers Union Insurance
- From The Heart
- Jerry’s Hardware
- Keller’s Hardware
- Kids Kutz
- Knife River Energy
- Kramer’s Restaurant
- Little Caesar’s Pizza – Opened December 1989 (now Papa John’s)
- Lutheran Brotherhood
- Michael Jays
- Northbrook Barber
- Northbrook Chiropractic (now Dakota Life)
- Northbrook Drug (now Thrifty White)
- Northbrook J&B Bottle
- Northbrook Shoe Repair
- Northbrook Sinclair (now Northbrook Tesoro)
- One Hour Martinizing
- Post Office
- Freshmart Foods (Red Owl) – Closed in June 1989
- Schauer Hearing Aid Center
- Drs. Keith and Robert Schindler
- Schmidt Insurance
- Striderite Bootery
- Take ‘N Bake
- Tele-Beep
- Wood ‘N Knot Crafts
Pictures
Footnotes
- Different sources cite varying years for Northbrook’s opening, including 1959 and 1964, but newspaper articles of the era confirm it was 1963.
- At least one source cites Grand Forks’s South Forks Plaza as being the second enclosed mall, but this is unlikely due to the fact it opened in 1964… one year after Northbrook and two years after Minot’s Arrowhead mall.
- The former Red Owl/Freshmart space was partially occupied by Santa’s Surplus in November-December 1989.
